4.18.2010

{sms} Sweet Potato Bread with Cinnamon-Rum-Orange Glaze

The recipe calls for the standard panty staples, plus canned yams. Alternatively, you can buy sweet potatoes, bake them yourself, and mash up two cups.

I like the inclusion of chopped pecans for texture, and since The Kids aren't interested in having any, I'm adding them in. Also accidentally added was that stringy piece of a yam end. I fortunately spied it in one of the loaves and hope there aren't any others submerged in there.

The recipe calls for a bundt pan. I took the traditional route for quick bread and put it into three mini loaf tins and one 8x3 pan.

To glaze or not to glaze, that was the question. I contemplated using a streusel topping instead, but since I am ultimately a sucker for anything rum- think Baba au Rhum, Pina Colada- I had to try the simple glaze. The ingredients were granulated sugar, rum, orange juice and cinnamon sticks.

I'm glad I did, as the orange juice adds brightness and dimension to the bread. What would I change? I used less sugar (1 2/3 cups as opposed to 2 cups- which works out well cause the glaze is sweet), and next time around, I would use butter (not canola oil) and more pecans.

Initially, I wasn't sure how I would like the bread, and after tasting the batter, I didn't love it. The final product, however, was fluffy and tasty. I ended up devouring a half loaf myself.

Your bread turned out great. Glad it was a big hit. I will be making this in a little bit and I'm still contemplating whether or not to glaze it. I'll probably skip it because I have lots of stuff to do today.

Btw, welcome to SMS. It's a great group and I think you'll enjoy baking along with us :o)

As for the spices for the mango bread, I tried little bits and pieces of it [that were stuck to the pan] so I'm not exactly sure how the whole thing tasted, but I did not change the amount of spices added except a little less cloves. Like half of the amount suggested in the recipe. [if i remember correctly]. I may have added more cinnamon, but that's just because I LOVE LOVE LOVE cinnamon.

Great pictures of your bread baking . . .LOVE them! Welcome to our fun little baking group. Also, thank you for the well wishes on my biking event; the event kicked my butt because of so many uphill sections but I am glad I went =o).